Paint preservation device and method of use

Abstract

A paint preservation device prevents leftover paint from drying by minimizing exposure of the leftover paint to air. The device may have a plunging lid for insertion into a bucket containing paint. A seal is formed between the plunging lid and the sidewall of the bucket. A hole through the lid allows air to escape when a user presses down on the lid, thereby removing the air to prevent the paint from drying. The aperture may be sealed with a cap. A tube may be attached at the aperture of the lid for extracting a smaller volume of paint from the bucket to a small container as a user presses down further on the lid, forcing paint through the tube. A method of use of a paint preservation device is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A paint preservation device, comprising:
 a bucket with an inner volume defined by a bottom plate and a tubular sidewall, wherein the sidewall has opposed bottom and top edges, wherein the bottom edge is coupled to, and extends perpendicularly from, the bottom plate and the top edge defines an opening of the bucket, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the inner volume is uniform from the bottom edge to the top edge;   a plunging lid, inserted in the inner volume of the bucket through the opening, the plunging lid further comprising:
 a horizontal plate having an outer edge, a contour of which corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the inner volume of the bucket, wherein a seal is formed between the plunging lid and the sidewall, and wherein the position of the plunging lid relative to the bucket is maintained by friction between the plunging lid and the sidewall; and 
 an aperture through the horizontal plate, wherein the aperture allows air and/or liquid to escape the inner volume; and 
   an aperture sealing device for reversibly sealing the aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The paint preservation device of  claim 1 , wherein the plunging lid further comprises a rim coupled to the horizontal plate and disposed vertically around the outer edge thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The paint preservation device of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture sealing device comprises a plug partially inserted into the aperture for sealing the aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The paint preservation device of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture sealing device comprises:
 a threaded pipe segment coupled to the horizontal plate of the plunging lid and extending perpendicularly therefrom, wherein a longitudinal axis of the pipe segment is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the aperture through the horizontal plate; and   a threaded cap removably threaded onto the threaded pipe segment.   
     
     
         5 . The paint preservation device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a threaded pipe segment coupled to the horizontal plate of the plunging lid and extending perpendicularly therefrom, wherein a longitudinal axis of the pipe segment is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the aperture through the horizontal plate;   a tube having a first end and an opposed second end; and   a threaded coupling device coupled to the first end of the tube and removably threaded onto the threaded pipe segment.   
     
     
         6 . The paint preservation device of  claim 5 , wherein the tube further comprises a pressure relief valve coupled between the first end and the second end, and wherein the pressure relief valve is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The paint preservation device of  claim 1 , wherein the bucket further comprises a rim extending inward from around the top edge of the sidewall thereof, and wherein the plunging lid is deformable. 
     
     
         8 . The paint preservation device of  claim 4 , wherein the aperture and the threaded pipe section are configured to allow insertion of a suction hose of a paint sprayer through the threaded pipe section and the aperture and into the inner volume of the bucket for extracting paint from the inner volume of the bucket. 
     
     
         9 . A paint preservation device, comprising:
 a plunging lid, configured for insertion into an inner volume of a bucket through an opening in the bucket, the plunging lid further comprising:
 a horizontal plate having an outer edge, a contour of which corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the inner volume of the bucket; and 
 an aperture through the horizontal plate; and 
   an aperture sealing device for reversibly sealing the aperture.   
     
     
         10 . The paint preservation device of  claim 9 , wherein the plunging lid further comprises a rim coupled to the horizontal plate and disposed perpendicularly around the outer edge thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The paint preservation device of  claim 9 , wherein the aperture sealing device comprises a plug configured for partial insertion into the aperture for sealing the aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The paint preservation device of  claim 9 , wherein the aperture sealing device comprises:
 a threaded pipe segment coupled to the horizontal plate of the plunging lid and extending perpendicularly therefrom, wherein a longitudinal axis of the pipe segment is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the aperture through the horizontal plate; and   a threaded cap removably threaded onto the threaded pipe segment.   
     
     
         13 . The paint preservation device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a threaded pipe segment coupled to the horizontal plate of the plunging lid and extending perpendicularly therefrom, wherein a longitudinal axis of the pipe segment is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the aperture through the horizontal plate;   a tube having a first end and an opposed second end;   a threaded coupling device coupled to the first end of the tube and removably threaded onto the threaded pipe segment, wherein, when air is present in the inner volume of the bucket, the air is forced to escape the inner volume through the aperture and through the tube and discharged from the second end in response to a user pressing downward on the plunging lid, wherein, thereafter, when paint is present in the inner volume of the bucket, a portion of the paint is forced to escape the inner volume through the aperture and through the tube and discharged from the second end in response to a user pressing downward on the plunging lid.   
     
     
         14 . The paint preservation device of  claim 13 , wherein the tube further comprises a pressure relief valve coupled between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         15 . The paint preservation device of  claim 12 , wherein the aperture and threaded pipe section are configured to allow insertion of a suction hose of a paint sprayer through the threaded pipe section and aperture and into the inner volume of the bucket for extracting paint from the inner volume of the bucket. 
     
     
         16 . The paint preservation device of  claim 9 , wherein the plunging lid is deformable. 
     
     
         17 . A method of use of a paint preservation device, comprising:
 storing paint within an inner volume of a bucket;   inserting a plunging lid through an opening of the bucket and into the inner volume of the bucket, a seal being formed thereby between the outer edge of the plunging lid and an inner surface of a sidewall of the bucket;   pushing the plunging lid toward a bottom plate of the bucket to expel air from the inner volume of the bucket through an aperture in the plunging lid; and   reversibly engaging a sealing device to seal the aperture.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 disengaging the sealing device;   coupling a tube to the plunging lid such that the aperture is aligned in fluid communication with the tube; and   pressing the plunging lid toward the bottom plate, wherein paint is expelled through the aperture in response to the lid moving toward the bottom plate.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 disengaging the sealing device;   inserting an end of a suction hose of a paint sprayer through the aperture and into the inner volume of the bucket; and   extracting paint from the inner volume of the bucket and into the suction hose in response to operation of the paint sprayer.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the bucket comprises a rim extending inward from around the top edge of the vertical sidewall thereof, the method further comprising:
 deforming the plunging lid until the plunging lid is sufficiently small to pass through the opening of the rim; and   restoring the plunging lid to its original form after it has been inserted through the opening of the bucket.